Catholics in Rancho Cucamonga celebrate, welcome Pope Francis

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- Great excitement and hope pervaded through the multitudes who came to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday night in celebration of their new spiritual leader.

Bishop Gerald Barnes of the Diocese of San Bernardino presided over the Mass and spoke about the widespread enthusiasm for newly elected Pope Francis.

"There's been great excitement ... even from people who are out of our faith," Barnes said.

"One person asked, 'Why do they have to choose a Catholic to be pope?' That's just the way it is. "

The church, packed with parishioners from throughout the Diocese, erupted in boisterous laughter after the Barnes injected humor into the proceedings.

Speaking in both English and Spanish, Barnes said the faithful had a "sense a new hope."

While not specifically mentioning clergy abuse issues that have become widespread in the church, Barnes' sermon hinted at the problems the church faced, including public criticism and increasing secularization. "Maybe there's been a lot of criticisms about our church," Barnes said. "Maybe because in our parishes we're struggling. Maybe it's because in our families we lost the children that we've raised as Catholics who are no longer practicing. Maybe it's a lot of stuff that has been in us and we haven't had a chance to really see the other side of who we are and so the spirit presents us with this man named Francis, and all of us are feeling this excitement. "

The Rev. Benedict Nwachukwu-Udaku, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, said he was among those who are excited about the Vatican's new leader.

"Today, the church is gathering here in Rancho Cucamonga to thank the good lord for this beautiful gift," Nwachukwu-Udaku said.

VeLores Thompson, a parishioner, said she was excited that Pope Francis has emphasized social outreach to the poor.

"I am thrilled we have Pope Francis," Thompson said. "I think the reason is his belief in serving the poor. "

On Tuesday, Pope Francis, 76, told tens of thousands of people who gathered outside of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome to protect the poor, each other and the Earth.

Francis said the role of the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics is to open his arms and protect all of humanity, but "especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison.

"Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God's plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment," he said.